Load binder

ABSTRACT

A load binder is formed by a pair of arcuately shaped leaf spring members slidably held together by U-shaped clamps. Teeth are formed on one of the leaf spring members and the other of such leaf spring members includes a holding pawl and loading pawl arrangement connected to the U-shaped clamp thereof. The holding pawl is pivotally secured to the clamp and urged into engagement with the teeth by a spring to prevent separating of the leaf spring members during the tensioning thereof. The holding pawl is then manipulated by a handle, which is removable, to draw together the leaf springs and apply tension through suitable flexible means such as a chain or cable to bind together a plurality of items. Tensioning forces of the load binder are obtained by relative movement of the leaf spring members with respect to one another to shorten their effective length and by the spring tension produced thereby as a result of straightening of these elements.

United States Patent 1191 Moyer 1451 May 1, 1973 LOAD BINDER Robert D. Moyer, R. R. 1, Box 33, Star City, Ind. 46985 22 Filed: Oct. 12,1971

21 Appl.N0.: 188,155

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S.Cl ..254/7l [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1923 Tremayne ..254/7l 5/1960 Greutman etal ..254/7l Primary ExaminerOthell M. Simpson Attorney-Roy H. Olson et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A load binder is formed by a pair of arcuately shaped leaf spring members slidably held together by U- shaped clamps. Teeth are formed on one of the leaf spring members and the other of such leaf spring members includes a holding paw] and loading pawl arrangement connected to the U-shaped clamp thereof. The holding pawl is pivotally secured to the clamp and urged into engagement with the teeth by a spring to prevent separating of the leaf spring members during the tensioning thereof. The holding pawl is then manipulated by a handle, which is removable, to draw together the leaf springs and apply tension through suitable flexible means such as a chain or cable to bind together a plurality of items. Tensioning forces of the load binder are obtained by relative movement of the leaf spring members with respect to one another to shorten their effective length and by the spring tension produced thereby as a result of straightening of these elements.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LOAD BINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to load binders and more particularly to load binder mechanisms including ratchet and pawl arrangements for producing relative movement between the two constricting elements of the load binder.

Load binders, or tensioning elements, are generally well-known in the art and include two slidably movable elements, one carrying a pawl gripping device and the other carrying teeth or ratchet engaging means. A handle is connected to the pawl to manipulate the same for engaging the teeth to cause relative movement between the two slidable elements. However, the loading force obtained by such arrangements is only that achieved by the relative linear movement between the two loading elements which is proportional to, among other things, the force and lever distance of the handle for actuating the mechanism. This arrangement may be suitable where the material being bound together is of substantially constant resiliency or size and configuration.

However, where a load to be bound is of such a character as to change its size or configuration or to have different amounts of resiliency at different times, the tension produced by the load binding mechanism which is used to bind such a load will vary accordingly. For example, when binding a chain around a load of logs it may be necessary to adjust the tension of the load binder from time to time to compensate for changes in characteristics of expansion or contraction due to temperature, humidity, and inherent shifting of log placements within a particular bundle. Therefore, it is then necessary to periodically check and retension the load binders, when necessary, to insure that the particular bundle oflogs will not fall apart.

While the load binder construction of this invention has particular utility when used in conjunction with binding large bundles of logs, it will be understood that it may be used in any environment where the problems of changes in bundle configuration will have adverse affects on the tensioning mechanism of the load binder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved load binder mechanism which will develop spring tension forces upon actuating the binder so that continuous compensation of binding forces will occur during changes in characteristics of the material being bound.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved load binder which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture while being efficient and reliable in operation.

Briefly, the load binder includes a pair of arcuately shaped leaf spring members arranged for relative movement against one another through passages formed by guide members secured thereto. Chain or cable engaging means may be formed at the spaced ends of the leaf springs to engage the chain or cable which passed around the bundle of material to be bound. One of the guide members includes a spring loaded holding pawl continuously urged into engagement with teeth formed on one of the sliding leaf springs. As tension is applied between the two leaf springs, the holding pawl engages the teeth to prevent relative movement therebetween in the opposite direction. A handle socket is pivotally secured to the guide member to receive a removable elongated handle for ratcheting a loading pawl from side to side across the teeth to cause relative movement between the two spring elements. As the spring elements move in a direction to bring their ends closer together, the holding pawl automatically engages each tooth as it passes thereunder to insure no backing up or releasing movement of the springs. Once the binder is fully tensioned by manipulation of the loading pawl and handle, the handle is readily removed to be used to actuate still another load binder, and so on. Under tension the leaf spring members tend to straighten against the natural spring force. This spring force will then tend to shorten the chain or cable to take up any slack which may occur.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended to designate similar elements or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a load binder constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the load binder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

. fixedly secured to the spring member 12, by welding or FIG. 4 is an end view of a bundle of logs bound together by a chain and the load binder of this invention to illustrate a use thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen a load binder constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The load binder 10 includes a pair of arcuately shaped leaf spring members 12 and 14 arranged for movement along their confronting surfaces relative to one another in sliding relation as shown at 16. The leaf spring member 12 includes a guide member 18, substantially U-shaped in the cross section, and which is the like, to have the outwardly extended arms 18a and 18b positioned on each side of the leaf spring 14. The guide member 18 together with the associated spring member 12 form a passage 20 through which the spring member 14 passes when the two spring members are moved relative to one another.

A second guide member 22 is secured to the leaf spring 14, by welding or the like, and forms a passage 24 through which the leaf spring 12 passes during relative movement therebetween. The guide member 22 is substantially U-shaped in the cross section and has the outer ends thereof turned over as indicated by 22a and 22b to engage the top surface of the spring 14 where they can be securely welded thereto. The turned ends 22a and 22b have a space 28 provided therebetween to insure that raised teeth members 26 formed on the spring 14 will pass readily between the turned ends. Also, the spacing between the extended ends 18a and in one direction and to hook therewith to prevent v movement in the opposite direction.

A loading pawl 36 is pivotally secured to a handle socket member 38 by means of a transverse pin 40. A spring 42 is secured to the handle socket 38 to urge the loading pawl 36 into engagement with the teeth 26 so that the two leaf members 12 and 14 can be pulled toward one another by ratchet action to shorten their effective lengths and to straighten somewhat their arcuate shape to produce a loading force thereby. The movable handle socket 38 is pivotally secured to the guide member 18 by a transverse pin 39. However, the movable handle socket 38 may be provided with an arcuate recess, not shown, to engage the pin so as to be removable from the guide member after the load binder is fully ratcheted to provide a holding force to the desired items. The movable handle socket includes a pair of side arms 38a and 38b between which the loading pawl 36 is located and between which the teeth 26 pass without interference. A socket 38c is formed in the handle socket 38 to receive a readily removable elongated handle 44 which is used to gain mechanical leverage during the ratcheting operation.

During operation, the handle 44 is moved to the right, as seen in FIG. 2, to cause the loading pawl 36 to pass over the teeth 26 ultimately to engage therewith. Thereafter movement of the handle 44 to the right will cause the two spring leaf members 12 and 14 to slide along their interface 16, and during this time the holding pawl 30 has the front slanted face 30a thereof easily moving over the teeth 26 until such time as the ratcheting action ceases. At this time the holding pawl 30 then engages the then existing tooth 26 which is under the hooked end thereof firmly to hold the spring leaf members together. The ratchet action is continued until the desired tension is reached.

A chain 46, or other flexible member, is connected to the spaced ends 48 and 50 of the spring leaf elements 12 and 14, respectively. The load binder 10 together with the chain 46 can then be used to bind together large numbers of items, such as logs. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of logs 52 bound together by the binder l and chain 46 in a manner that well illustrates the function of the apparatus. The load binder can be used to bind together such other items as steel tubing bar or plate, cotton, and the like.

What has been described is a simple and efficient binding mechanism used in conjunction with an elongated flexible member such as a chain or cable to apply a binding force which is produced both by the ratcheting action of the spring leaf elements and by the transverse spring tension developed as a function of straightening the spring leaf elements under load. That is, the spring leaf elements 12 and 14 are somewhat strai htened during a loaded condition and variations and oad conditions, within limits, will cause flexure of the spring elements 12 and 14 to take up any slack that may occur within the chain 46. Accordingly, variations and modifications of this invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A load binder, comprising first and second arcuate spring leaf members arranged for movement along arcuate confronting surfaces relative to one another, a first guide member fixedly secured to said first spring leaf member and forming a passage therewith through which said second spring leaf member passes, a second guide member fixedly secured to said second spring leaf member for forming a passage therewith through which said first spring leaf member passes, teeth means formed on said second leaf spring member, a holding pawl pivotally secured to said first guide member and extending therefrom to engage said teeth means to hold said first and second arcuate leaf spring members against relative movement in one direction, a loading pawl for engaging said teeth means for ratchet action therewith to cause movement of said first and second arcuate leaf spring members in a direction opposite said one direction, and handle means pivotally secured to said first guide member and pivotally connected to said loading pawl to actuate the same for engaging said teeth means to draw said first and second spring leaf members together, thereby providing loading tension in response to the movement of said first and second leaf spring members and in response to the spring fiexure thereof.

2. The load binder of claim 1 wherein said teeth means are formed by raised ridges on said second spring leaf member, and said first and second guide members are U-shaped in configuration with the spaced end portions of said second guide turned inwardly but spaced apart sufficient to allow passage of said raised teeth therebetween during manipulation 0 said loading pawl.

3. The load binder of claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a socket member pivotally secured to said first guide member, said loading pawl being pivotally secured to said socket member, and a removable handle engageable with said socket member for actuation of said loading pawl when inserted therein and to be removed therefrom after said first and second spring leaf members are fully tensioned.

4. The load binder of claim 1 further including a first leaf spring means connected between said first guide member and said holding pawl to urge said holding pawl into engagement with said teeth means, and a second spring means connected between said handle means andsaid loading pawl to urge said loading pawl into engagement with said teeth means during manipulation thereof. 

1. A load binder, comprising first and second arcuate spring leaf members arranged for movement along arcuate confronting surfaces relative to one another, a first guide member fixedly secured to said first spring leaf member and forming a passage therewith through which said second spring leaf member passes, a second guide member fixedly secured to said second spring leaf member for forming a passage therewith through which said first spring leaf member passes, teeth means forMed on said second leaf spring member, a holding pawl pivotally secured to said first guide member and extending therefrom to engage said teeth means to hold said first and second arcuate leaf spring members against relative movement in one direction, a loading pawl for engaging said teeth means for ratchet action therewith to cause movement of said first and second arcuate leaf spring members in a direction opposite said one direction, and handle means pivotally secured to said first guide member and pivotally connected to said loading pawl to actuate the same for engaging said teeth means to draw said first and second spring leaf members together, thereby providing loading tension in response to the movement of said first and second leaf spring members and in response to the spring flexure thereof.
 2. The load binder of claim 1 wherein said teeth means are formed by raised ridges on said second spring leaf member, and said first and second guide members are U-shaped in configuration with the spaced end portions of said second guide turned inwardly but spaced apart sufficient to allow passage of said raised teeth therebetween during manipulation of said loading pawl.
 3. The load binder of claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a socket member pivotally secured to said first guide member, said loading pawl being pivotally secured to said socket member, and a removable handle engageable with said socket member for actuation of said loading pawl when inserted therein and to be removed therefrom after said first and second spring leaf members are fully tensioned.
 4. The load binder of claim 1 further including a first leaf spring means connected between said first guide member and said holding pawl to urge said holding pawl into engagement with said teeth means, and a second spring means connected between said handle means and said loading pawl to urge said loading pawl into engagement with said teeth means during manipulation thereof. 